Question

At an ice cream shop, 4 of the last 12 cones sold had chocolate ice cream. Considering this data, how many of the next 15 cones sold would you expect to have chocolate ice cream?

Answer 1

5

Explanation:

First, write the experimental probability as a fraction in simplest form.

P(chocolate)

=

chocolate

total

=

4

12

=

1

3

The experimental probability is

1

3

.

We can predict the outcome of the second set of trials by assuming that the ratio will be the same as in the first set of trials. Write a proportion by setting the two ratios equal to each other, then solve.

1

3

=

n

15

1

3

(315)

=

n

15

(315) Multiply both sides by (315)

115

= 3n Simplify

15

= 3n Simplify

5

= n Divide both sides by 3

You would expect 5 of the next 15 cones sold to have chocolate ice cream.